We are disturbed and shocked by the targeting and damaging of a school bus in Hamilton, ON that serviced an Islamic school in the area.
It is alleged that someone may have targeted the school bus in a parking lot full of school buses, vandalized it with Islamophobic graffiti, and damaged the bus including shredding bus seats.
We are in touch with the school, community members, and all authorities, including the Hamilton Police, regarding the situation.
The targeting of a school bus that services Muslim children during a time of rising Islamophobic violence is alarming to the highest degree. While we cannot confirm the motivation behind this attack at this time, and we will wait until the police have a final determination, it is extremely concerning.
We call on all leaders to denounce what happened, and to work with community members to stem this tide of Islamophobia.
We will have more to say as the situation evolves.